"But Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, following –" John 21:20
I love the word picture we see in this incident. Jesus has just commissioned Peter, "Follow me", yet Peter looks back, looks at John and asks, "what about this man?" What Peter's motivation is, we can only hazard a guess, but Jesus replies, "If I want him to stay until I come, what is that to you? [What concern is it of your?] You follow me!" (Jn 21:20-22)
We can learn quite a few lessons from this incident. Firstly, Christianity is about relationship, not ritual, but a living relationship with the Risen Christ. We can so hold up the "badge" of denomination as though this is salvation in itself, but this only produces pride in our hearts. This reminds me of the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector in the synagogue. (Lk 18:10-14) The Pharisee, proud of all the religious activities which I'm sure he kept to the 't', whilst the tax collector, recognising his deep need of forgiveness humbly beat his breast in humility of heart. I hate to burst your bubble, but Jesus wasn't an Evangelical, a Catholic or even a Pentecostal. He was not a denomination. He is the Saviour who came and showed a radical way to live by relationship not ritual. Personal relationship! That is, intimacy with Him, one-on-one, face-to-face fellowship not ritualistic going-through-the-motion, once a week duty. Hence in that one-on-one relationship of love between Himself and Peter, He commissions and equips. Jesus is clear, each must have their own relationship with Him. "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1Jn 5:12
This leads us to the second lesson. We are not to look at others. We are not to compare. We alone, each one, are to look at Jesus – period. We look to Him, we love Him, we obey Him and we follow Him. Are you following Him? Are you following Jesus – no one else, just Jesus! We don't follow any man, any priest, teacher, evangelist, man or woman. No we follow Jesus. We do what He did, love God and love others. We learn from Him, He is the Light (Jn 812), He is the burden-bearer, He said, "Take my yoke and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls". (Matt 11:29) This is not to say that we cannot be encouraged by others of faith but we are to listen, each one of us, to the personal charge of the Holy Spirit in our lives as He speaks to us through the Word of God. And we give grace to others who are also on this journey of getting to know Christ intimately as their Saviour and LORD.
The third lesson I get from this is that God has a plan for each one of us. (Jer 29:11) Peter who became a leader of the church in Jerusalem along with James (Jesus brother) had a big impact on the Jewish nation to whom they were called. Equally John's revelation of "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (Jn 1:14) has made and will continue to make impact upon humankind. John's gospel oozes with the revelation of love and relationship. He presents Jesus in intimate ways, such as the Vine and we the branches, connected yet pruned for greater fruitfulness, receiving health and vitality from the Vine. (Jn 15:1-6) Close, joined, abiding - the only way for the life to flow from Vine into branch.
Lastly we learn about God's amazing grace toward those who are repentant and His restorative desire to reconcile relationship. Peter had mucked up, and mucked up bad. He had declared his allegiance to Jesus before all the disciples – "I'll die for you, even if the others leave you and stumble, I won't." (Matt 26:31-35) We know the story, when the crunch time came, the crunch of Peter's retreating footsteps became a distant, quiet sound in the dark night. Peter denied His Lord, not once but thrice before he fled into the night. We don't see him standing at the cross. We see the fulfilment of Jesus words, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED.'" Imagine how Peter felt, the remorse, the bitter weeping, the shock that what he declared he would do - stand by his Lord - he couldn't do. He let down Jesus who had loved him thoroughly for 3 years, sowing into His life and building him up. Now the Risen Christ stands before Him and asks Him to "follow me". There is no recrimination but reappointment. Grace is extended, mercy received and Peter became one of the "Fishers of Men". (Mat 4:19) Peter's journey had led him back to the shores of Galilee where Jesus first called him and where he had put down his nets to follow. The reappointment came on the shores of Galilee where once again they were fishing. And the commission was clear, the fishing is behind you, service in the Kingdom is in front of you. "Follow Me."
Jesus is still calling today. He calls to you, "Follow Me." What will your response be?
